October 19, 2012

Rhodes, Marshall nominees: Four students in running for elite national scholarships

Kansas State University is nominating two students for the Rhodes national scholarship competition and three students for the Marshall national scholarship competition.

The university's 2012 Rhodes Scholar nominees are Justin Prelogar, senior in political science, philosophy and international studies, Leawood; and Adam Summers, senior in physics, Lenexa. Summers is also a 2012 Marshall Scholarship nominee, along with Amy Sents, graduate student in veterinary medicine and public health, McPherson, and Angela Grommet, senior in chemistry, Wichita.

"These nominees were selected competitively from a strong field of campus applicants. Their nominations reflect not only their talents and abilities, but also the countless hours of hard work they have dedicated to achieving excellence and reaching their goals," said Jim Hohenbary, assistant dean for nationally competitive scholarships. "We are proud to have them represent Kansas State University in the national competitions."

Rhodes scholarships are awarded to 32 students each year and provide full funding for one or two years of study at Oxford University in England. Marshall scholarships are awarded to as many as 40 students each year and provide full funding for one or two years of study in the United Kingdom. Nominees selected as competition finalists for either scholarship will interview in November.

Prelogar has served as the president, vice president, scholar delegate and social chair for the Smith Scholarship House and president of the university's Philosophy Club. He has also served as event chair, recruiting chair and public relations chair for the university's Relay for Life committee. In addition, Prelogar is an Eagle Scout with Seven Palms, Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor. His past scholarships include a Critical Language Scholarship, the Dennis K. Tapsak Memorial Scholarship, the Orma Linford Scholarship, a philosophy department scholarship, the Irene M. Putnam Scholarship and the Button Political Science Scholarship. He would like to pursue a master's degree in global governance and diplomacy or public policy. A 2008 graduate of Blue Valley High School, Stilwell, he is the son of Madeline Prelogar, Leawood, and Jeffrey Prelogar, Windsor, England.

Summers is a member and academic adviser for his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and a research assistant in physics. His honors and awards include: James R. MacDonald Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Scholarship, Leo E. Hudiburg Scholarship, and Branson and Cardwell Scholarship, all from the university's physics department; Sigma Phi Epsilon Sound Mind Scholarship; and Wabash Cannonball Scholarship from the K-State Alumni Association. Summers wants to study quantum and non-linear optics at either Oxford University or Imperial College London. A 2009 graduate of St. James Academy, Lenexa, He is the son of Lauri Summers, Shawnee, and Craig Summers, Lenexa.

Sents is active in the university's Public Health and Bovine clubs, as well as the Frontier program. She was awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship in 2010 and was named the university's outstanding senior in animal science in 2011. She won first prize in the 2012 American Veterinary Medical Historical Society Smithcors Essay Contest and was an International Farm Youth Exchange Association representative to Germany and Switzerland for six months in 2010. She would like to study science and security at King's College London or security and terrorism at the University of Nottingham, both in the United Kingdom. A 2007 graduate of McPherson High School, she is the daughter of Deanna and Allan Sents, McPherson.

Grommet is a 2012 Barry M. Goldwater scholar and has received a Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research Award, American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry and a Putnam Scholarship. She is a member of the university chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma professional chemical fraternity and Phi Eta Sigma national honor society. She is heavily involved in undergraduate chemistry research and has worked as a laboratory teaching assistant for organic chemistry. She wants to study supramolecular chemistry at the University of Cambridge or the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. A 2009 graduate of Andover High School, she is the daughter of Anne and Gary Grommet, Wichita.